documents the military service of women from Newcastle and the Hunter region of NSW, 1914-1919

Sister Grace WILLIAMSON, 1889 – ?

Connection to the Hunter – Sister Grace Williamson is named on the Cessnock Citizens’ Memorial. Although born in Sydney, Grace probably spent her early life in the Hunter Valley. Her mother married David Lamb in Newcastle in 1891 and subsequently gave birth to four children, registered variously at Newcastle and Minmi so Grace would have gone to school in the area.

Training and experience – Grace is named on the honour roll of Sydney Hospital so would have trained or worked there, or both.

Service – Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS)

Service location – Salonika and UK

Medals, awards and mentions – British War Medal and Victory Medal

Sadly, Grace suffered a breakdown after the War. It is not known whether this was a result of her experiences in Salonika and England or the loss of one brother and serious wounding of another during the War. Worse, she was far from home at the time of the breakdown, at a hospital in Honolulu. The Matron of the hospital wrote to the military authorities in Australia to ask for a family contact and to enquire whether there was any financial assistance available to Grace through the Army.

Do you know more?

References:

National Archives of Australia B2455 WILLIAMSON GRACE

Nominal Roll of the First AIF Australian War Memorial (AWM) AWM133 57-011

Embarkation Roll of the First AIF AWM Nurses (July 1915 – November 1918)